I spilled a glass of water on a shelf filled with books after an evening during which I’d said something I deeply regret. As I rarely drink, and never hard liquor, I would never had thought of a shot glass. But your suggestion is well taken – I’ll think about it and may make a change. Thanks for your input, Jacqui. Wish I’d run this by you before publishing. How was your Thanksgiving?

You’re one of the very few readers who commented about this poem. (I don’t get a lot of readers, either, but that’s another story.) It’s made me wonder that I didn’t connect with people. Thank you, Cathleen, for uplifting me.

Love this Sharon. What a great metaphor.
I have always preached about the way people can so easily utter hurtful or hateful words, yet words of love, gratitude, and forgiveness are rarely expressed. And a real heartfelt apology
well, that went out the window with chivalry, politeness, and romance.

I have never done this before, but I read this post and thought of you. No need to read or get back to me. Just letting you know I remembered you.

Modern society has certainly changed, and though I welcome some changes, I agree a lack of courtesy makes for so much self centered selfishness that benefits no one. But this particular poem is really about myself, how I said something I deeply regret because of a propensity to blurt before I think. Those words are out there, still stinging folks I love whom I shouldn’t have and never meant to hurt.

I read the article on Shelley’s blog, thank you for directing me to it. (One of my favorite aspects of blogging is getting introduced to other bloggers.) She’s quite brilliant and writes an engaging blog. It’s a very enlightening post and I replied. Always a pleasure to read your thoughts, Andrew.

Thank you for the call out, Andrew! And I’m thankful you helped to cause a ripple effect to connect me with Shari here too. You both have creative talent beyond that which my simple words can describe. Thanks again – much appreciated. And Shari – your poem is so touching on many levels – PS I’m glad you reached out to say hi to me!

Like water will always leave a stain on paper no matter how little we spilled and how much we try to repair the damage, words of anger can have the same effect, even when taken back. I think we all experience that in one way or another and only few make the effort to repair the harm done by their words. Sorry seems to be the hardest word in the world.

As it happens, I really hate when I accidentally spill water over books! Luckily this does rarely happen. 😊

It’s indeed regretful when a clumsy move spills a glass of water all over the place. The year after I destroyed my elbow, I couldn’t control my hand/arm movements and frequently spilled my water glass – thankfully, I rarely drink anything else. Bad as it can be to damage a treasured book, an artwork, a rare antique, it’s the damage caused by my clumsy mouth that I really regret and can never fully repair. I’ve regained better control of my arm, but my mouth – needs stronger tape sometimes.

Don´t be too hard on yourself, Shari, we´re all humans and thus prone to do mistakes, I think. Being able to regret is a very good start, to be strong enough to talk about it is even better. There are many things and words in my life that I wish I could take back, but as it is not possible, I try to concentrate to balance them out with new words if the opportunity arises.

Sharon Lynne Bonin-Pratt began her writing career the way so many others have done: by first doing everything else. Winning entries in grade school art, story, and essay contests convinced her to become a writer, but the real world intruded in adulthood and demanded she pay bills, raise kids, be a contributing member of the community. Along that rutted path she worked in the commercial art field designing patterns for surfer shorts, bikinis, and Hawaiian style shirts, taught after-school art through a city recreation program, and structured an art curriculum for three private schools. Ten years ago the writing muse, struggling to breathe in letters to friends and art articles, found its way to the surface. In a two-week period Shari wrote 60 pages of her first historical novel, and didn’t stop for three years. By then a second book demanded paper – OK, computer space – and now the third is in final revision stage. Of course, final revision is two words with a long shadow and a little footprint. Some folk claim they will write when the floors get vacuumed, the family accounting completed, the new garden planted. Shari is proof that all those things can be successfully ignored but not the urge to write. Her fiction explores human relationships, revenge, rage, forgiveness, redemption, and all the labyrinthine quandaries that mess up otherwise perfect lives. She resides in Southern California with her husband who’s learned to vacuum but not to cook. And the garden needs help.